Episode No. 11 mini-recap: 'The Ultimate Fighter: Australia vs. UK'

The show, also dubbed “TUF: The Smashes,” features Australian fighter George Sotiropoulos and the U.K.’s Ross Pearson as head coaches of their country’s respective teams, which feature a total of eight lightweights and eight welterweights. They compete in a pair of single-elimination tournaments during the series, which concludes at UFC on FX 6 on Dec. 15.

FX airs the show in Australia, and ESPN carries the show in the U.K. It’s available online at aus.tuf.tv for the rest of the world beginning Thursdays at 9 a.m. ET (6 a.m. PT).

Here are the highlights from episode No. 11:

• Team UK fighters look back on the teammate-vs.-teammate scenario they were faced with on the previous episode – but they all realize that’s going to be the name of the game at this point. It’s the same on the Australian side, though, as Robert Whittaker will have to face teammate Xavier Lucas. The two fighters say while the circumstances aren’t ideal, neither is willing to let it stand in the way of a shot at winning the show.

• Team Australia’s coaches tell Whittaker and Lucas they can pick from amongst their teammates to corner them in their fight against each other – but the coaches will simply help with their training, but not participate in cornering for the fight itself. Ultimately, the fighters and their teammates find this to be the fairest situation possible.

• Some Aussie rugby standouts stop by the gym to train with Team UK. And while the UK fighters are fairly clueless about who they are, when the Aussie fighters get to the gym, a few are starstruck right away.

• At the official weigh-in, Colin Fletcher is up to his old Sharpie tricks and even Sotiropoulos gets a kick out of it. Whittaker weighs in at 170.5 for the welterweight semifinal. Lucas also hits 170.5, and the fight is set. Sotiropoulos says being a professional fighter rises above friendship right now for the two.

• We see both Whittaker and Lucas working out plans with their chosen cornermen, and hear from each of them on the day of the fight as they talk about their preparation and fighting a teammate. But soon enough, it’s time for the fight.

• The two touch gloves and get things under way with Whittaker looking for a high kick early and Lucas kicking low to the outside. Whittaker lands a kick to the body, then backs up as Lucas looks for a big right hand counter. About a minute in, they clinch briefly, but there’s not much there. But shortly thereafter, Whittaker lands a right hand and drops Lucas right to the canvas. Whittaker is in quickly and lands a few shots on the ground before the ref can get in to stop it. The end comes just 1:17 into the fight, and Whittaker’s knockout puts him into the finals. Lucas says he’s disappointed, but lost “to a good dude.” Whittaker is excited, naturally, to be fighting in the finals. He faces off with Team UK’s Brad Scott for their bout at the live finale.

As the UFC 189 tour made its last stop in Dublin, featherweight champ Jose Aldo was met with a torrent of abuse from the Irish fans. It might have been unpleasant, but it might also have been just what he needed.